The Right Vote is Important

I can’t wait for November 6 to be over. I am already tired of all the energy and money we have poured into this election.

I hear people say that Christians should vote a certain way – Republican or Democrat. People who seem otherwise very sensible and sane can totally lose their ability to think and communicate calmly and clearly when it comes to the election. They begin to cast disparaging remarks, either at the candidates or other people. Truth, accuracy, and context seem become irrelevant if the propaganda supports one’s cause or candidate.

The sense I get from those who are passionate about the election is that the one who gets elected will impact whether God can get His work done or not. This is nothing short of idolatry. Our dollars and our debates have elevated the office of the President to god-like status. It is as if the election of our candidate will either further God’s agenda or thwart it.

Since when did God need a president or even a president’s permission to do His work? If we read the Bible even casually, we discover that some of the most godless leaders were woven into the fabric of sacred history to bring about the very thing God wanted to happen!

I do not espouse disengagement from politics because they have become corrupt or misguided. However, I do think it would serve us well to maintain a separation between our faith and a political party. This is to protect our faith, not our democracy. Our faith should inform our opinions and our vote. But rarely will this compel anyone to align with any political party.

We should be studying candidates and issues. We should be praying for the election and when it is over, for those who are elected.

Political and civic engagement is good. God wants to be represented by faithful followers in all legitimate walks of life. However, alignment with a party can easily cause us to be misaligned with the King. In the end, it is the one ruling our life, not our country, that matters the most. Who are you voting on for that position? It is the one vote you are guaranteed to win. Choose wisely!

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Once again, Phil, so well said. The alignment of Christians to particular parties and candidates has become so common that your title “scared” me–made me think for a moment that is where you were going. I’ve heard so much of that. Your message is a timely, pertinent reminer. Let us pray, indeed.

Amen! I couldn’t have said it better myself. I have been avoiding a lot of the commentary on tv whether Christian or not. The horrible things that have been said about both men running for president by Christians have grieved me. But I do know that God is all powerful and will accomplish in the earth what he wants to accomplish no matter who is in office. Proof of that is shown through out the bible. The main thing for us to do is pray for who ever is in office as his word tells us.

Your comment brings up an important point about what Christians are saying and how they say it. Our civic interface is an integral part of our witness to the world. Half truths, untruths, malicious accusations, even whole truth with a mean spirit do not reflect Jesus’ comment that the world will know us by our love. Keep praying, keep loving, and keep voting.